Liege Airport to invest $24m in cargo infrastructure

The cargo-focused airport in Belgium will invest in airfreight handling facilities in 2018, the airport announced, with an additional 50 million euros invested in future cargo services, according to local newspaper Brussels Times.    Liege Airport in Belgium will invest over 20 million euros (U.S. $24.1 million) for new warehouses and handling facilities due to increased cargo activity over the past 12 months, the airport said.
   “First, the global cargo business is undergoing general growth driven by good economic performance in Europe, but also by the emergence of new niches driven by e-commerce,” said Liege Airport CEO Luc Partoune. “And the saturation of Amsterdam airport has changed the situation. In 2018 Liege Airport will increase its storage space as a priority. Nearly 20,000 sq. m. of additional warehouses and equipment are planned, representing an increase of 30 percent of our cargo handling capacity. The first hall of 6,000 sq. m. will be available in January 2018 and the other warehouses will be operational by the end of 2018,” said Partoune.
   “Our strong points, labelled Flexpress – free areas, no slots and quality service – appeal to operators”, said Partoune.
   Since June 2017, Air China Cargo has been running a weekly flight between Shanghai and Liege and it will increase its rotations in 2018. Furthermore, Air Bridge Cargo decided to establish its main hub at Liege Airport in October, said the airport.
   Last week, local newspaper the Brussels Times reported that the airport would invest an additional 50 million euros for future cargo services in 2018, but the airport could not be reached for comment.
   According to Brussels Times, four new large aircraft parking stands will be built by 2019, and falls within the Flexpress cargo priority strategy, for a total of 30 million euros. Additionally, 20,000 square meters of cargo halls will also be developed for a total of 20 million euros. The newspaper stated that the airport had a record year for cargo in 2017 with more than 700,000 metric tons.